Best Journalist

Dan Brooks

Dan Brooks prefers we start with an important clarification. He might be a competent columnist—that’s humble coming from the 2015 Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s national columnist of the year—but he’s quick to point out he’s no regular journalist. In fact, Dan often cites the dogged reporting of others in his weekly Indy column before trying to make some sense of our region’s often ridiculous political scene. It’s Dan’s ability to bring some context and humor to important issues like UM’s ongoing troubles and characters like Commander Zinke that endear him to Indy readers. And while the title “Best Journalist” may give Dan some pause, he’s still thankful. “At least Jordan Johnson didn’t win,” he says. Dan Brooks, Missoula Independent• missoulanews.com and combatblog.net